Entertainment News

RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) is celebrating a successful year for its Talking Books with over 11,000 new members subscribing since the service became free last November. Mark McCree, Senior Manager of Library and Heritage Services at RNIB said: “It is amazing that our Talking Books service has seen a 30 per cent growth in its membership at a time when library services across the country are struggling in the face of severe cuts."

Imagine the fun of stepping into a larger-than-life Nintendo adventure.  Gigantic Piranha Plants spring to life.  Question blocks, power-ups and more surround you.  And Mario and all his friends are there to pull you into a brand-new world. You will enter an entire realm filled with iconic Nintendo excitement, gameplay, heroes and villains, and it is coming to three Universal theme parks around the globe.

Wolverhampton’s Mayoress is looking to solve a Victorian mystery as the city counts down the days to the 150^th anniversary celebrations of its iconic Prince Albert Statue. Next Wednesday (NOV 30) marks 150 years to the day that Queen Victoria travelled to Wolverhampton to unveil the famous tribute to her beloved late husband. The city is celebrating the occasion with a programme of celebrations including a military parade, a re-enactment of Victoria’s visit and a mass toast to the statue at exactly 1.50pm.

Having firmly established itself as the best alternative festival for pop-punk and rock revellers alike, Slam Dunk Festival 2017 has announced the second-wave of fantastic acts for its biggest year yet. Headlined by the searing electronic masterminds Enter Shikari as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of their monumental debut album ‘Take To The Skies’, the festival welcomes alt-rock men of the moment Don Broco, pop-punk pros Bowling The Soup, ska punk outfit Less Than Jake, Californian ska mob Reel Big Fish, and American east coast pop-rock powerhouses We The Kings and Cute Is What We Aim For.

Following a successful opening to the general public last month, Prince's home and recording studio, Paisley Park in Minnesota, has announced that it is expanding and enhancing its tour of the legendary production complex by offering new, themed fan experience packages, starting 1st December, in addition to the current General Admission and VIP tours.

The View from The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, has unveiled a programme of Christmas wonder, from carol singing to champagne and even a cinematic classic… there really is something for everyone. The open-air Skydeck on Level 72 will also be transformed from 21 November into a serene winter hideaway – 800ft above the capital for all guests to enjoy. You can experience 360-degree views for up to 40 miles with winter plants, pine trees and twinkling lights.

New research from VoucherCodes.co.uk, and the Centre for Retail Research reveals that Brits will be spending an impressive £1.96 billion on Black Friday this year, up 19 per cent on last year and equating to a massive £2,313,760per minute. Falling on Friday 25^th November, Black Friday kicks off a four-day sales weekend for 14 million shoppers in Britain - with UK sales accounting for 60 per cent of total Black Friday expenditure across Europe this year.

Presenter and singer Louise Redknapp, model Daisy Lowe and actor Danny Mac are the first celebrity contestants announced to appear on the 10^th anniversary Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour, which kicks off in Birmingham on 20 January 2017.  Louise, Daisy and Danny will join new tour host, Anita Rani and the new live tour judging panel of Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood (who also directs the tour) and former Strictly professional dancer and winner of the 2006 series, Karen Hardy for the 30 date live arena tour extravaganza. 

Get ready for a dinosaur road trip: Dippy the Diplodocus is on the move and coming to Birmingham. Never before on public display outside of London, Dippy will travel the length and breadth of the country from early 2018 to late 2020, stopping at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery for four months as part of the tour. The British icon is on a mission to inspire five million natural history adventures, encouraging families to explore nature on their doorstep.

Talented tribute artists perform the songs of Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and Neil Diamond during Saga’s exclusive entertainment weekend on the Isle of Wight. The weekend starts on Friday, March 3, 2017 at Norton Grange Coastal Village, Freshwater, Yarmouth. Saga have reserved the entire hotel exclusively for its guests. Three nights of music, dancing and shows start from just £115 per person. In addition, Saga guests pay only £5 for the return car ferry crossing which includes up to four passengers.

The Vamps recently announced their world tour plans including a big run of UK & Ireland arenas.  The UK and Ireland tour will conclude at Birmingham’s Genting Arena on 19 May 2017. The Vamps believe in giving back to their fans with the lowest arena prices in the industry so every fan can see the tour. The show features support artists The Tide and New Hope Club, and a big special guest to be announced soon.

Nearly 200 years since it was published, the Christmas classic A Night Before Christmas is set for a reboot as Amazon searches to find a new Christmas Eve classic – launching the career of an unknown author in the process. The nationwide writing competition is open to all adult UK residents, with the winning story to be illustrated and published ahead of Christmas Eve. Alongside the opportunity to have his or her work professionally illustrated by esteemed artist Aless Baylis, the author will receive a £2,000 Amazon gift card, a top of the range Fire tablet and royalties from the book for years to come, following the initial five-day giveaway this Christmas.

LOVE - a new play written through a devising process by Alexander Zeldin opens in the Dorfman Theatre on 5 December. It's the run up to Christmas. In a city where over 50,000 households are living in temporary accommodation, three families find themselves without a home. A middle-aged man and his elderly mum, a young family with a baby on the way, a newly arrived woman from Sudan. Strangers. Forced together. No space is personal.

This summer, influential British icons The Specials and legendary reggae heroes Toots And The Maytals will share the stage for the very first time. With both acts boasting significant careers that span over 40 years, they’ll play Birmingham at the end of May to kick-start the summer with a refreshing mix of timeless anthems. The Specials are undoubtedly one of the most celebrated UK bands of all time. 

Official cider of Rugby League, Kingstone Press, has lived up to its name of Experiential Brand of the Year, by delighting rugby league supporters with a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity at the Four Nations. At each England game, fans were invited to sit in front of a branded photo board and be part of the England team photo. Rewarding people with a unique souvenir, the activity was designed to strengthen the consumer relationship with Kingstone Press and further link the cider to the sport.

With over 300 years of history and heritage, the World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace is the perfect place to visit undercover. Head inside the Palace to discover exciting contemporary artworks, battles fought on tapestries and learn all about the life of the family and the staff. Take the guided State Room Tour, which runs throughout the day and is led by experts who each have their own passions and areas of special interest.